- After 13 seasons (2007-19) as team president, Bidwill became owner following the passing of his father, Bill, in 2019. Michael continues a tradition of Bidwill ownership of the Cardinals that dates back to his grandfather, Hall of Famer Charles Bidwill in 1933.
- Since taking over as team president in 2007, Bidwill's leadership has transformed the Cardinals both on and off the field. Of the franchise's seven all-time postseason wins, five have come with Michael leading the organization. Arizona has played in nine postseason contests over the last 14 seasons, after having appeared in just seven total playoff games prior.
- Arizona has appeared in the NFC Championship Game twice since 2008 including a victory in the 2008 conference title game that led to the franchise's first-ever Super Bowl appearance (Super Bowl XLIII).
- Among Bidwill's most substantial accomplishments with the Cardinals is the creation of State Farm Stadium. The world-class venue has proved a critical turning point for the franchise, an economic engine for the state of Arizona, and most recently, a crucial resource in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Since State Farm Stadium opened in 2006 it has hosted two Super Bowls (with a third – Super Bowl LVII – set to cap the 2022 season) and the Cardinals have sold out 144 games at the venue (which is every non-pandemic game played there).
- In addition to his role in helping Arizona land Super Bowls XLII, XLIX and LVII Michael was also instrumental in getting the 2015 Pro Bowl moved to State Farm Stadium; played a week before Super Bowl XLIX, the two events combined to deliver a record economic impact of $720 million to the region.
- State Farm Stadium served as a critical site since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The venue hosted three blood drives at the beginning of the outbreak and in 2021 it became one of the first, and most successful, mass vaccination site in the nation. Between January and April, more than 800,000 COVID-19 vaccines were administered at State Farm Stadium, which accounted for nearly 20% of the total doses administered in Arizona during that period.
- Through Bidwill's leadership, the Cardinals have taken a lead role in a host of initiatives to assist those impacted by the pandemic. The team made a $1 million foundation donation to Arizona Coronavirus Relief Fund and also joined with State Farm to donate one million meals to local food banks. To support local businesses, the team donated $100,000 to non-profit Local First Arizona and also set up the Cards Carryout initiative to promote local restaurants in the state.
- He oversaw the team's appearance in the ground-breaking Amazon Original series All or Nothing: A Season with the Arizona Cardinals. Produced by NFL Films, the eight-episode series was awarded the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Serialized Sports Documentary in May of 2017.
- In January of 2018, Michael was one of five owners named to the NFL's Player-Owner Committee focused on social and racial justice initiatives. In December of 2014, Commissioner Roger Goodell tapped Bidwill to chair the league's Conduct Committee. The committee reviews the league's Personal Conduct Policy at least annually and recommends appropriate changes with advice from outside experts.
- In January of 2016, the National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Hall of Fame inducted Bidwill and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey into the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame.
Michael Bidwill practiced law for six years as a federal prosecutor but in 1996 returned to the team for which he had once been a ball boy. He represents his family's third generation of franchise leadership, following in the footsteps of grandfather Charles - a Pro Football Hall of Famer who purchased the team in 1933 - and his dad Bill, who handled day-to-day operations for decades.
CARDINALS LEADERSHIP: After initially serving as Vice President/General Counsel, Michael took over as team president in 2007 and his leadership has transformed the franchise. Since '07, the Cardinals have posted four double-digit win seasons (none in previous 20 years), including a franchise-record 13 victories in 2015. Of the Cardinals' seven postseason wins, five have come during Bidwill's tenure leading the franchise.
The Cardinals success under Bidwill has greatly elevated the team's popularity both locally and nationally. Michael oversaw the team's appearance in the groundbreaking Amazon Original series All or Nothing: A Season with the Arizona Cardinals, which chronicled the 2015 Cardinals season from the NFL Draft through the NFC Championship game. Produced by NFL Films, the eight-episode series was awarded the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Serialized Sports Documentary in May of 2017. In February of 2018, the Cardinals launched Cardinals Flight Plan, a first-of-its-kind documentary series available on Facebook Watch and YouTube that takes fans behind the scenes for an inside look at the team's offseason. The first three seasons of Flight Plan (2018-20) garnered over 16 million views between Facebook and YouTube. The fourth installment documented the Cardinals recent offseason as the team gears up for the 2021 campaign.
IF YOU BUILD IT: Among Michael's most significant accomplishments with the Cardinals was leading the effort that led to the creation of State Farm Stadium. The venue has been an integral factor in the transformation of the Cardinals and a catalyst for the franchise's success. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 that impacted sporting venues around the world, the team had sold out all 144 games played since the opening of the iconic stadium that has welcomed millions of Cardinals fans.
The venue has also given Arizona the opportunity to host three Super Bowls in a 15-year span, some-thing that would have been impossible previously. After hosting Super Bowl XLII in 2008, the stadium staged Super Bowl XLIX in 2015 and was awarded Super Bowl LVII to be played on February 12, 2023. Super Bowl XLIX and surrounding events delivered an economic impact of $720 million, the highest for any Super Bowl on record and the largest for any special event in the state of Arizona.
In addition to those Super Bowls, State Farm Stadium also hosted the second-ever College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship Game in January of 2015 as well as the NCAA's Men's Basketball Final Four in April of 2017. The Final Four was the first since 1995 held west of Texas and capped an unprecedented run of major sporting events at the stadium. That grand slam (Super Bowl XLIX, 2015 Pro Bowl, CFP Championship, and Final Four) poured $1.3 billion into the Valley's economy according to a study completed by the Seidman Research Institute, W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.
By the time it hosts Super Bowl LVII, State Farm Stadium will have undergone $100 million in improvements including parking infrastructure, state-of-the-art wi-fi, video boards, sound system upgrades and club-area enhancements since it staged Super Bowl XLIX.
Another project undertaken by Bidwill was the $15 million expansion and renovation of the Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center in Tempe. A three-phase project over two-plus years, it added more than 92,000 square feet to the team's headquarters. Among the upgrades and expansions were a stand-alone 78,000 square foot indoor practice bubble, a new full-service kitchen and dining area, an expanded weight room and new player rehab and cardio area that more than doubled the size of the previous weight room, expanded and newly re-designed locker room for players and coaches, an updated athletic training room and doctor's examination room and additional meeting rooms.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO ARIZONA AND GREATER PHOENIX: In addition to his prominent role with the Cardinals, Bidwill has established himself as one of the most influential leaders in the greater Phoenix business community where he has been a strong advocate for economic growth and development. He is currently Chairman of the Greater Phoenix Leadership (GPL), an organization composed of the region's top business and civic leaders. From 2008-10, Bidwill served back-to-back terms as Chairman of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC). He is also on the five-person Executive Committee of the Arizona Commerce Authority's Board of Directors which the ACA says "unites some of the state's most powerful, proactive officials with its globally recognized leaders of business."
Under Bidwill's leadership, the Cardinals took a lead role in a number of initiatives to assist those in Arizona who have been impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. In March, the Cardinals made a $1 million founding donation to the Arizona Coronavirus Relief Fund and shortly thereafter, the team organized three major blood drives at State Farm Stadium to meet the dire need to replenish the Valley's dwindling blood supply. In early April of 2020, at the height of the outbreak when demand for assistance from food banks in Arizona more than doubled, the Cardinals joined State Farm to provide one million meals to five local food banks.
To assist local businesses during the crisis, the Cardinals made a $100,000 donation to Local First Arizona, Arizona's Coronavirus Micro Grant Fund and also helped promote local restaurants through the Cards Carryout initiative. Through the Cards Carryout program, Cardinals players and staff joined fans in helping promote independent, locally-owned restaurants hit hard by the coronavirus crisis while also recognizing those working on the front lines of the pandemic.
HONORS: In January of 2019, Michael received the Paul Tagliabue Award from the Fritz Pollard Alliance for demonstrating integrity and leadership in the area of career development for minorities and advocating for diversity. In May of 2019, the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association named Bidwill its Honoree of the Year for his efforts to unify the tourism industry by convening industry leadership throughout the state to advance economic development and increase visitation.
In September of 2018, Bidwill was chosen as the Grand Marshal of the Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl parade. In being selected for the honor, Bidwill joined a notable list of Grand Marshals, which includes Diamondbacks Hall of Fame pitcher Randy Johnson, former Cardinals QB and Hall of Famer Kurt Warner and former Suns/Diamondbacks owner Jerry Colangelo.
In November of 2017, Bidwill returned to St. Louis where he was honored at the prestigious Musial Awards after stepping up to fund the city's high school football awards when the previous sponsor pulled out. In January of 2016, Bidwill and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey were inducted into the National Football Foundation (NFF) Hall of Fame for their roles in helping shape the economic future of the state. In March of 2016, Bidwill was chosen to serve as the Grand Marshal of the 33rd annual St. Patrick's Day parade, one of the most popular and longest running such events in Phoenix.
In May of 2015, Michael was presented with the esteemed Vision Award from the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau, an honor bestowed just three times previously: Phoenix mayors Skip Rimsza and Phil Gordon plus former Suns and Diamondbacks owner Jerry Colangelo.
Bidwill received the 2014 Transformational Leader Award from the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry. In November of 2013, he received the "West Valley Regional Advancement Award" from Western Maricopa Coalition, which cited continued positive impact in that community. Bidwill was selected by the Phoenix Business Journal as one of its 25 "Most Admired CEO's" in 2010.
NFL LEADERSHIP: Within the National Football League, Michael's considerable influence is illustrated by his appointment to 10 different league committees, including chairmanship of two. In December of 2014, Bidwill was selected to chair the league's Conduct Committee which was formed to ensure that the league's Personal Conduct Policy remains current and consistent with best practices and evolving legal and social standards. Bidwill brings unique perspective and experience to the Committee, as he was an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the Department of Justice in Phoenix from 1990-96, specializing in homicide and other violent crime cases.
Michael also chairs the league's Stadium Security and Fan Behavior Committee, a group of eight club executives that oversees and develops best security practices for NFL facilities. He has also been a member of the league's Business Ventures Committee since 2007.
In January of 2018, Michael was one of five owners named to the NFL's Player-Owner Committee focused on social and racial justice initiatives. A year later, he was appointed to the Chairmen's Committee of NFL owners who act as advisers to Commissioner Roger Goodell in identifying the league's priorities.
Other league committees on which he serves are Workplace Diversity; Health & Safety; Compensation; and Legislative while also serving on the board of the National Football League Foundation.
BACKGROUND: Bidwill earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from St. Louis University in 1987 and in 1990 earned a law degree from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. In May of 2015 – 25 years after his own graduation from the school – Michael delivered the commencement address at Catholic University's School of Law and was also awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.
A flying enthusiast and licensed pilot, Bidwill regularly flies himself to Cardinals road games and for other team and league business. He is a member of the board for the Pat Tillman Foundation, which carries on the legacy of the former Cardinals safety killed in Afghanistan in 2004. Bidwill has also previously served as a member of the Air Force Chief of Staff Civic Leader Program whose membership "comprises respected community leaders (who) provide ideas and feedback to advise the secretary of the Air Force, the Air Force chief of staff and Air Force senior leaders."
